The Latest: California police dog loses teeth during arrest

February 28, 2018

In this frame grab from video provided by KNBC-TV, a driver behind the wheel of an SUV at left, carjacks the vehicle from the motorist standing at left, and pins a good Samaritan between vehicles during a high-speed chase in Irvine, Calif., Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The chase also involved several crashes before a police dog took down the suspect. (NewsChopper4/KNBC-TV via AP)

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — The Latest on a dog that lost teeth capturing a carjacking suspect (all times local):

5:50 p.m.

Authorities say a dog that lost six front teeth tackling a carjacking suspect in California should be back on the job in a matter of weeks.

The 8-year-old Dutch shepherd, named Puskas (POOSH’-kahs), took down wanted parolee Antonio Padilla Jr. on Monday in Irvine. Police said the man had tried to run after crashing a truck and carjacking an SUV.

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna tells the Orange County Register that Puskas may have hit the pavement snout-first after clamping his jaws on the suspect.

The dog had his broken front teeth surgically removed but a vet, Steven Dunbar, tells KCBS-TV the missing teeth aren’t crucial. He say Puskas should do just fine without them.

Bertagna says Puskas is recovering and should be able to work again in a few weeks.

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4:23 p.m.

Authorities say a police dog that tackled a carjacking suspect after a wild Southern California chase lost most of its teeth taking him down but will recover.

Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna says the Dutch shepherd, named Puskas, probably hit the pavement snout-first after the dog clamped its jaws on the man Monday in neighboring Irvine.

Authorities say the man had tried to run after crashing a truck and carjacking an SUV.

Bertagna tells the Orange County Register that the 8-year-old dog lost his upper and lower teeth except for his canines. But Bertagna says Puskas is recovering after surgery and should be able to work again in a few weeks.